Jeremy Kaplan
There is no doubt that a career in law is fulfilling. Lawyers find satisfaction in helping their clients solve issues that touch on the law and also, they help them in understanding tough legal matters and remaining compliant. However, while this is a good career that is admired by many, it is not the best career path for everyone. This is why it is essential for aspiring students to examine themselves and the law field to see if it’s a good fit before signing up for law school. Some of the things you can consider as an aspiring law student include the following.
What Do Lawyers Really Deal With?
As stated above, their work mostly revolves around legal issues working with a number of clients who could be individuals, families or companies. To fulfil their duties, there is a lot of reading, research, evaluation, writing, preparing, analyzing legal documents and representing their clients. Are those tasks you would enjoy and find fulfilment doing? This is one of the first thing you should really examine when making your decision.
Internship and Mentorship
Once you are certain this is the path you will take, start looking for internship opportunities and people who can mentor you before you start your career. Look for lawyers operating in the area where you would like to work in future and who specialize in the path you would like to follow. Get their advice and request to see how a day in their life looks like. For instance, if you would love to work in Ottertale, check lawyers in that area who would be willing to mentor you. Also, check out internship and volunteer opportunities offered by law firms.
Education and Extra curriculum Activities
Firstly, good grades increase your chances of getting into a good law school. Therefore, make sure you work hard at school. There are tons of people who apply to law schools every year, but the more you work hard, the better your chances of being selected among the top students. However, there are other factors that law schools consider. Thus, check the specifics for the school you would love to attend and work on that.
Extracurricular activities in both high school and colleges can help you to develop some of the soft skills that can make you become a better lawyer. Examples of activities that can help include being involved in debates, research projects, leadership roles and mock trials.
Plan Financially
Education will cost money, so it’s good to discuss this with your parents or caregivers early enough. You can pay for your college with savings, student and other loans or even apply for scholarships. If you are eyeing a scholarship, check the requirements in advance and start working on fulfilling them. Some law firms and NGOs do offer both full and partial scholarships to students who meet their qualifications.
Lastly, as mentioned earlier, there are some skills, other than the technical stuff you learn in class that can be helpful in making you a better lawyer. Some of these soft skills that you can work on continually include communication skills, emotional intelligence, analytical skills, integrity, persistence, attention to detail, teamwork, negotiation, management, critical thinking and leadership among many others.
